Zero-emission Antarctic research station equipped with Kyocera solar modules

Kyocera Solar

14 December 2007

Kyoto / Neuss – The Belgian "Princess Elisabeth" station, to be built in Antarctica by the International Polar Foundation during the summer season 2007-2008, sets out to be the first ever zero-emission research station. The “Princess Elisabeth” Station will be equipped with 408 Kyocera solar modules.

The "Princess Elisabeth" research station will be exposed to the extreme Antarctic conditions, with temperatures going as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius and wind speeds reaching 250 km/h. Such conditions demand a reliable energy supply. In order to achieve this in a zero-emission context, 120 solar modules of the type KC130GHT-2 from Kyocera are being installed on the building. Further 288 free-standing modules around the station are to follow.
Together with eight wind turbines, the Kyocera photovoltaic plant will generate a total of 98.6 kilowatt hours, used to power communication infrastructure, heating and electronics.

“We are always striving to supply our solar systems to ecologically valuable projects such as the ‘Princess Elisabeth’ Antarctic station,” says Mitsuru Imanaka, European President of Kyocera Fineceramics GmbH. “Kyocera’s objective as an environmental pioneer is to achieve a harmonious balance between economic development and practical environmental protection. In Kyoto, Kyocera's hometown, people made a step in the right direction regarding climate protection by committing the Kyoto Protocol. In 2007, ten years after the agreement, we hope the industrial nations will be driven by this anniversary to even increase their effort for
environmental protection.”

The Kyocera Corporation is a pioneer in the solar energy market and began to develop solar cells in 1975. Company founder Dr. Kazuo Inamori thus made a fundamental contribution to the solar industry. His achievements included stepping up the pace of series production for multicrystalline silicon. Since then, the company has gathered many years of experience and has established a close link to the solar industry. Today Kyocera is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of solar cells and modules, with a highly controlled mastery of all the production steps from wafer and cell fabrication to module assembly.

Further Information on the "Princess Elisabeth" antarctic station:
http://www.antarcticstation.org